Topic: Joseph Spence Makes WaPo Top 100 Christmas Song List

[MarkC]

Joseph Spence’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was ranked at No. 9, knocking Bruce Springsteen’s version out of the rankings:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/07/100-best-christmas-songs-ranking/

Although the overall intent of the article is tongue in cheek, I think Mr. Spence getting some attention falls under “any publicity is good publicity.”

[Slack]

Love her comment too.

9. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” But only this version. This is the treatment the song needed. Forget it, Bruce.

[waxwing]

What?! No Kung Fu Christmas from the National Lampoon "Goodbye Pop" LP (Christopher Guest, genius, with several of the early SNL crew).

Down the Dial to Kung Fu Christmas


Here's the whole LP. If you grew up when I did, this spoofs almost every music you grew up with.


And then what about the Kinks' "Father Christmas'?


Wax

[Rivers]

Quite right too.

[David Kaatz]

Joseph Spence’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was ranked at No. 9, knocking Bruce Springsteen’s version out of the rankings:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/07/100-best-christmas-songs-ranking/

Although the overall intent of the article is tongue in cheek, I think Mr. Spence getting some attention falls under “any publicity is good publicity.”

Thanks for posting this - I subscribe to the digital Post, saw the headline, but would not have read this article, not realizing it was tongue in cheek.

[Stuart]

Thanks for the heads up, Mark. It's an enjoyable article. Hopefully the direct link to Joseph Spence's version on YouTube will lead some people to learn more about the man and his music. One can hope...

[David Kaatz]

Finally started (haven't finished) reading this, this morning. I noticed the article was originally published in 2018. Anyone have any songs to add?

[Stuart]

Here's a tangentially related article:

https://www.prosperipress.com/death-might-be-your-santa-claus-the-history-of-christmas-music/

[MarkC]

Finally started (haven't finished) reading this, this morning. I noticed the article was originally published in 2018. Anyone have any songs to add?

I completely missed that original publication date!